"Mase, could you help me put away the groceries?" Vanessa asked as she walked into the kitchen with the final bag.

She was met with silence, which wasn't abnormal. Mason was an attorney and most of the time he brought his work home, so he was never much help around the house.

"What would you like for dinner?" She placed the bag on the counter and walked to Mason's office.

She knocked on the door. She knew better than to just walk into his office, he would get upset and he warned her numerous times of the consequences of entering without permission, so she always knocked.

"Come in,"

She smoothed out her hair and her clothes before opening the door. Mason hated it when she wasn't aesthetically pleasing, so she always made sure she was neat before greeting him.

A smile grew on her face as she opened the door. Her husband was the epitome of handsome and hardworking, and he was all hers.

"Hi, Mason," She grinned and stood in front of his desk. He liked to have a view of her from a distance, he said it gave him an opportunity to check her out.

Mason looked away from his work and scanned over her with his eyes. He motioned for her to turn around, which she did happily. Pleasing him always made her happy.

He motioned for her to stop, which she did. "You look pretty. How's the child?" He asked and looked back down at his work.

She didn't mind. He seldom gave her his full attention, but she didn't mind. He complimented her and her heart was content. "She's doing wonderful, thank you for asking," She said sheepishly.

He scribbled something down and pulled a thick pile of papers from his desk. "Don't make dinner tonight." He said without looking up.

She was confused. "O-oh, are we going out or something?" She asked gently. She didn't want him to think that she was defying his orders, she was only curious.

Mason flipped through the pile of papers and signed a few pages. "No. I'm tired of this," He signed a few more pages and then drew an arrow on the bottom. "Sign this," He murmured and turned the papers to face her.

She looked at the papers and read over them. "Oh, God," She whispered and clutched her stomach. It was divorce papers.

"Mason," She choked.

He looked at her and shook his head. "Don't start with the tears, Vanessa." She felt a piece of her heart crumble. He never called her Vanessa. "I don't want to be married to you. Sign the papers," He grabbed the papers and held them in the air, mocking her in a way.

"Why not?" She asked with her hands in the air, a sign of frustration.

He threw the papers onto his desk and glared at her. "Because I don't love you anymore. I don't want to be with a woman like you, not anymore." He opened his desk drawer and placed a pen on top of the papers. "Now, be a good girl and sign the papers." He smiled wickedly as tears built up in her brown eyes.

She couldn't believe her ears or her eyes. Her husband, the man she loves, the father of her unborn baby, was asking for a divorce. "Mason," She stammered, but he held his hand up in the air.

"I'll arrange a place for you and our child to stay, I'll send weekly support for the child. Just sign the papers," He urged her and handed her the pen.

She took it hesitantly, hoping that this was only a dream, she prayed to wake up. "I love you," She whispered and signed her name on the allotted space. And though she would miss him, she knew better than to fight for a man's love.

Somehow, he didn't love her anymore. It hurt her heart, but once a man made up his mind, nothing could make him change his mind. She knew that much.

She placed the pen down and walked to the door. "Goodbye," He looked up from the papers and smiled.

"Be on your way," And with those final words, her heart crumbled into pieces.

-

Eva handed her a cup of cocoa and Lucas wrapped a blanket over her body.

"I don't know," She felt lifeless. Mason was the love of her life, they had been together since she was seventeen, and now he didn't want her.

"I love him, but he doesn't want me anymore," She mumbled. If it weren't for her baby, God only knows what she would've done.

It bewildered her. How could someone just stop loving his wife?

He was everything to her. He taught her so much about life and love. She didn't know how she would go on without him.

Eva sat next to her and held her. "I know that it hurts right now, but I promise that you will feel better. God has a plan for your life and it doesn't stop at this." Eva was never a fan of her sister's husband, he was controlling and manipulative. It creeped her out that a man of his age was interested in her sister at such a young age.

"I-i wish that I believed in your words, but my life is now hopeless," She cried and held her belly. This sweet angel was all she had left of her dear husband and she loved her already.

Lucas stood next to the couch and watched as his sister sobbed. He didn't know how to help her. He only knew that Mason was scum.

"Um," Lucas cleared his throat and placed his hand on Vanessa's shoulder. "Is there anything I can do to help you?" He asked hopefully.

She wiped her tears with the blanket her sweet brother gave her and nodded. She loved her family dearly. "I-i believe that my sweet baby would like, like a brownie," She was hesitant in asking. Mason never liked her having too many sweets. He said that she would lose her figure and she'd get cavities.

"Is that all? I mean, I could get you some ice cream too," Lucas suggested, wanting to make his sister smile.

Her crying stopped and she imagined a warm brownie with vanilla ice cream on top. Something that she hadn't enjoyed in over five years. "I think that my baby would love that," She said softly and rubbed her belly.

She didn't look up. She was afraid that Lucas would berate her for wanting too much. Maybe he was like Mason. "Nevermind," She whispered and prayed that Lucas wouldn't raise his voice at her.

It was scary when Mason yelled at her. She always tried not to make him upset, but for some reason, she was always causing trouble with her husband. If only she had been more obedient to him.

"Nessa," Eva shook her shoulder lightly. "If you think that it'll be too much, I'll eat the rest if you get full," She offered.

"I think that I like that idea," Vanessa nodded and tried to hide her smile.

It was horrible. Vanessa was always a sweetheart. She never gave their parents any trouble. She never gave anyone trouble. Mason ruined her. He took advantage of her kindness and her submissive spirit.

She was a naive young girl, seventeen and bright-eyed when she met Mason. He was twenty-nine and he swept her off her feet. Vanessa found no problem with their age difference, only because Mason convinced her that there wasn't a problem.

He conditioned her in a way that she couldn't see how awful his behavior was. In her eyes, he was kind and he only wanted what was best for her. To her, he was her savior, he always made sure that she was taken care of and she had more than what her heart desired.

It was going to be hard changing what Mason had practically programmed into Vanessa's head, but Eva knew that with God, all things are possible.

"Bon appetit!" Lucas placed the ice cream-covered brownie on the table in front of Vanessa.

Eva watched as gears turned in her older sister's head. "I bet the baby is excited," She had an idea that Mason deprived her sister of sweets.

Vanessa's mouth watered. The brownie looked delectable. But if she ate it, Mason would be upset. "I can't" She looked away from the tempting brownie.

Mason. She covered her mouth and clutched her blanket. Mason, he didn't want her anymore. "Mason," She whimpered. She was lost without him. He was everything. He is everything.

He always took care of her, he loved her. He took her out three times a week, he showed her off. He chose the best outfits and hairstyles for her. He treated her like a doll and now she had no one.

She felt like a sheep without a shepherd.

She wanted him here, telling her that the brownie would rot her teeth. Telling her that dinner was good. He always called her pretty. Who would call her pretty now?

She didn't know how to function without her perfect man. He always told her what to do, who was going to tell her what to do now?

She knew that he didn't want her anymore, and she respected his every word. But she didn't know how to go on without him.

She knew one thing.

No man could ever treat her as good as Mason Stone did. He was the greatest husband a woman could ask for.

-

Authors Note

Hey guys! I used to write author's notes at the end of every chapter that I wrote, but I stopped for some reason....

Anyway, I'm backkkkk!

I'd like to know what y'all thought of the chapter, any constructive criticism...

I've got something to say for sure, Mason is a huge piece of crap and he needs to kick kicked in the face.

Honestly, I've got a lot more evil coming from Mason, I just wanted to warn y'all.

If you think that he's bad now, you'll, well, let me stop running my mouth. I don't want to spoil this story for you guys.

Thanks for reading and a comment, vote, and a share would be nice! No pressure though!

Until next time!

Jasmyn